Shenandoah

Autumn has come, painted across the landscape in a colorful brushstroke! It is the most gorgeous time of the year.

My friend Will was born and raised here in Madison County on the edge of the Blue Ridges. And so I came up to the mountains this fine afternoon to walk through fallen leaves and marvel at the seasons change draped over the land in so many different hues with good friends.

Now Will is raising his own daughter here adding another layer of attachment to this place. At only one year old this may be the first autumn she has the faintest remembrance of! That thought makes me excited as we hike through the yellow woods and valleys here. Will and Julie are happy for a helper and I love looking after Rose.

She babbles and burbles her own words for things while we botanize through the forest kicking up fallen leaves. As we hike we hand her bright maple or hickory leaves drained of their photosynthesizing green and she holds them tight in her baby hands like the dearest of treasures.

Hiking to the valley bottom we picnicked by a small pool fed by a waterfall in a holler and ate local apples from nearby orchards, simple bread, and hummus with a bar of chocolate for desert. I carried Rose on my back uphill in the baby backpack where she promptly fell asleep only to awake in a babble of amazement.

I try to imagine what she must see and feel waking up to the magic of autumn over the Shenandoah. Like waking up to a beautiful dream.